Chapter 208.

The Duke reflexively lowered his gaze and looked down into his teacup. In the clear tea, his own stiff face was reflected.

In a flash, someone’s voice swept through his ears like lightning.

※When you are with that child …… look at the tea in the teacup, father.

Ah.

The Duke barely swallowed the groan that erupted. Forgetting all about it. Before leaving home, Penelope said such words.

Why did she suddenly say such a thing?

Confusion came like a tsunami. The Duke resumed the conversation then in despair. For some reason, suddenly wanted to have lunch with Penelope. So called her with the greenhouse. What …… was the conversation afterward.

“Go out.”

Yes, said going out. Going out as an excuse to say that even if you leave home, you still want to help. The kid who was getting fatter by the day after the coming of age ceremony, I can’t look at it anymore, it was a decision made after a night of hard work.

These are the words of the flawed Penelope out of the blue. Show me the tea. Creepy stuff ran down my spine.

If it is a human being, it is impossible not to be irradiated by tea. If it’s a human being, of course …….

“…Then who exactly is that child in front of me?”

Iben had passed countless exams and had reached the stage where he was sure it was his own daughter. The appearance that was completely similar to her dead ex-wife was also an appearance, but the secrets, anecdotes, and memories that could never be known if it wasn’t in person. That was definitely not fake. If it weren’t for Penelope, there would be no hesitation in announcing that the biological daughter had returned.

Penelope.

Since when did Penelope know the truth? How was the boy’s expression when he said that? Strangely, the memory of that day at the luncheon is not clear.

The mind whirled like a storm. At last he hesitated many times in fear ……

The remnants of Penelope, who had left the greenhouse as if fleeing, were there when Cass uttered those words.

*Be careful with that child, father!

“…… Sad but lucky. I’ve also noticed that Leah seems to like Paul …… a lot.”

“The two are now together forever …… Duke?” Hearing the voice calling out to him, Duke suddenly snapped out of his memories.” Ah ……”

Looking up, Iben stopped yakking and looked at himself with round eyes. It was the face of the eternally meek Iben, and for some reason, cold sweat ran down his neck.

“Ah …… sorry. What are you talking about?”

“Is there something foreign on the tea?”

“…… Hmm?”

“Because you’re only looking at the continuing teacup.”

Iben didn’t laugh. The Duke’s fists clenched under the table.” Ah …… not. Suddenly remembered forgetting something.”

“What’s the big deal? The face doesn’t look too good.”

“Never mind. Thanks for worrying.”

Iben quickly showed a worried expression. The Duke jumped up from his seat, trying not to move any of his voice.

“…… Something’s wrong, I’m going to get up first. It’s coming back after tea.”

“Duke, are you going to do the same?”

“It’s not polite to keep a sick person too long, is it?”

He tried to finish that sentence and leave the table. But before he could take a step, the sleeve of his shirt was grabbed.” I …… Duke.”

Carelessly looking back, Iben had a lot to say and looked up at himself. The Duke looked down at the grabbed sleeve and her eyes went reflexively cold. She swallowed and spoke.” …… You asked if there was anything I wanted?”

“Ah, yes.”

At that the Duke released his stiff expression and smiled with effort.” Have you figured out what you want?”

“Not what I want …… I want to go out for a while.”

“Go out?”

“Yes. Came here suddenly and parted ways without being able to say hello to the villagers who used to live here. Sick, the neighbors miss you …….”

It happened to be the same theme that Penelope ended up sharing.” I can’t believe I’m going out when I’m still not feeling well. There’s plenty of time, go later.”

“Ha, but …… have orphaned children in their care. I’m worried that they didn’t go hungry while I was gone. Please, may I?”

Iben gently waved the Duke’s hand. It was a cute look of pampering. But the Duke could never stop his eyes from going into the empty teacup. It wasn’t like Penelope had made a mistake and hadn’t thought of a way that she should force someone who was out. He answered with difficulty after a brief moment of agonizing thought.

“…… I will escort you along.”

“No, I can come back if I go on the devils alone.”

“But it’s dangerous outside the villa, Iben. How can you go around a woman alone without an escort.”

“I spent my life outside that villa …….”

She said a little sullenly. The Duke’s face twisted at that. Should have grown up more precious and rich than anyone else in the world. The little daughter who didn’t even hurt when she put her eyes on them, just imagining living in a dirty and dangerous place she didn’t know about, her eyes would widen when she slept.

Losing.

Thoughts of his daughter brought Penelope here, but it didn’t alleviate the guilt in the least.

“I’m fine, Dad.”

As if he knew all about that mood, Iben looked at the Duke and smiled brightly. Holding warm blue eyes halfway down his face the Duke then spoke.

“…… Please make way for the magic car. This is not to be conceded.”

“I will accept it gratefully.”

“Be sure to return before sunset.”

“Yes.”

Iben smiled brightly once more. The Duke looked thoughtfully into the face of his daughter of office.” I will, Papa.” Without shame.

“I will prepare Iben for her outing.”

Returning to his office the Duke gave a short order to the deacon.” Good.”

Became the deacon who answered faithfully.

“Did you have a good talk with Ms. Iben ……?”

The Duke looked back at such a deacon. Wrinkled eyes glittered with faint anticipation. It wasn’t just the Duke of Silk and his two sons who awaited their lost little daughter. It was cruel for Penelope, but all who remembered the lovely Duke’s girlhood couldn’t wait for her return.

“…… Fennel.”

The Duke called the deacon’s name heavily instead of answering.

“Yes, master.”

The faithful servant who had cared for him for so long immediately noticed the unusual look on his master’s face and bowed his head. The Duke chanted in a heavy voice.

“…… I will follow her.”

“Yes? What ……”

“As a wizard who can perform tracking magic…”

The deacon’s eyes faltered. But the Duke’s words didn’t end there.

“And …… gather the wizards and the First Division behind the mansion. That man Derrick will call him quickly with communication magic as well.”

To arrive at the front of the mansion in Ibn’s magical vehicle. Looking out the window the Duke’s eyes sank icily.

“There is an emergency at the villa.”

***

Winter Belldandy did not enter the upper hut until the sun went down. His body seemed broken because he had traveled all over the country all day. Nevertheless, he could not rest. One had to categorize what was useful in the collected documents and information, play it, and interpret the ancient texts. The only thing that could combat the Ancient Leila was Ancient Magic.

But after a fierce war, the ancient wizards had lost their lifeblood, and the magic they used was generalized. Moreover, it takes more than strength, it takes ideals to fight against Leila, who has been holding her breath for a long time.

He traveled across the country to collect the documents one by one. To reconstruct the true mirror.

Today, he arrived at the tackle and slowly climbed the stairs in search of materials he didn’t know were real.

The horns of Hydra, the wings of Perrin, the mercury at the bottom of Lake Urdu …… these were the trophies that had stayed up with him tonight.

In the street above, his deepest, gloomiest place, the top of him had been flooded with darkness. Grabbing the doorknob, he whispered a spell and unlocked it.

The door above hung with a spell that no one but his designated client could open. This was to prevent the state of affairs waiting to go back and throw it away in his absence. For example, the woman who left mercilessly in the blink of an eye after receiving the purple flower ……. Clipley″. The exhausted pace that wouldn’t be strange even if he fell down on the magic object had just taken a step. He accidentally stopped in his tracks and stared sharply at a certain place.

“Who are you.”

Deep beyond the living room table and couch. In the darkness, someone beeped out.

“You just got here now.”

The footsteps stopped high up where the border of the faint light coming in from outside met.” I’m here on commission.”

The weak voice was completely unthreatening. But the pupils looking at the blinds flickered strangely.

“No …… I’ve come to find something that’s lost.”

“Belldandy Postmortem.”